Barf, Birds and Bogs
Blackburn Botha L6416
and
Miles Master T8614 on Beldoo Moss.
Distance covered =
2.5 miles/ascent = 58m
I didn't realise when I went to visit the Tomahawk crashsite on Red Gill Moss* a few months earlier that I had passed very close to two other crashsites. I'd been informed there wasn't much left to see at both sites but still worth a visit, and as they were less than a mile from the A66 they were in range of the Grandson.
Theo enjoys going on a wreckhunting walk, it's just sometimes he doesn't realise that, and this walk was one of those times. A bout of carsickness and projectile vomiting caused by the windey roads over the moors didn't help his demeanor any so although I had 3 crashsites penciled in for the days itinerary we were destined to only reach two.
Above and below:-Setting off for Beldoo Moss from a large layby next to the very busy A66.
Theo's mood brightened up when we found a tiny baby bird beside the path. We had no idea what sort of bird it was but we left it where it was in the hope that it's parents were nearby. A bit further along the path we came across a load of baby Geese, they scattered in every direction apart from one which seemed to be quite happy for Theo to pet it. We had to move on quickly when the Parents turned up as they were understandably not happy with our presence.
The first Baby bird we encountered.
above and next 3 photos:- Lots of Baby Geese.
After petting the Geese it was a short distance over the moor to find the first crashsite we were looking for. After an initial search we found no sign of any wreckage on the surface, but there was a mud filled depression right at the grid reference we had and a sweep with the metal detector confirmed we had found the spot.
above and below:-Searching for bits of botha on the bleak boggy moor.
This Boggy mud filled hole was exactly at the co-ordinates we had for the Botha.
There was a grouse feeder nearby which was marked with a white pole so we borrowed that to prod in the muddy puddle(we did put it back where we found it). Theo was quite happy to stick his arm into the mud and he pulled out several fragments of the Botha. There was also what appeared to be a floorboard in the mud, we lay that to one side thinking someone had just used it to stop themselves sinking into the mud but it turns out it was a piece of the Botha's wooden floor.
Heading over to the Miles Master site.
A Miles Master also crashed here, only about 100m from the Botha. We had a grid reference for the start and finish of a wreckage trail but despite having a good search around with the metal detector all we managed to find was a large panel lying in a stream bed.
Searching for Master remains.
above and below:-Theo holding the only piece of Master T8614 that we found.
I discovered later that most of the Master wreckage lay in a gully next to a stream, we did sweep the stream in question with the metal detector while we were there and got lots of hits, so it would appear the stream banks had all collapsed at some point and buried all the wreckage.
Theo holding the Master panel while his Dad sweeps the stream bed with the metal detector.
After leaving Beldoo Moss we were going to relocate the car and go to a third crashsite, but as the smaller member of our party was really not in the mood to walk any further we decided to leave that one for another day.
